The social and human sciences in South Africa: an analysis of employment trends

M. Wilson, L. Richter, K. Durrheim, N. Surendorff, L. Asafo-Agei

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper presents an historical analysis of employment trends for social and human science graduates in South Africa from 1976 to 1996. Employment advertisements were selected from three national weekly newspapers, the Sunday Times, Mail and Guardian and Rapport, and analysed using content analysis. The aim of the paper is two-fold, firstly to describe trends, past and present, in the requirements for social and human science graduates in order to ensure that these disciplines remain relevant and contemporary; and secondly, to analyse the possible contributions of these graduates to South Africa's transformation process as outlined in the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP). Implications for training in the social and human sciences are drawn. The role of these disciplines in societal transformation is described and some tentative effects of the introduction of the Growth Employment and Redistribution Strategy (GEAR) are noted.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)131-141
Number of pages11
JournalSociety in Transition
Volume30
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 1999
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Social Sciences

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